Our Faculty
Mrs. Teresa Patton
Academic Director
Teresa received her bachelor’s degree from Virginia Tech in Child Development and Elementary Education and has been teaching in public, private and home-schooling environments for almost 20 years. In addition to teaching, she has been very active in curriculum development for Redeemer.
Mrs. Heather Dowdy
Science
Heather graduated summa cum laude from James Madison University with distinction in Geology and a minor in Middle Education. She has worked in both public and private settings as a teacher, a tutor, and an aid to students of all ability levels. She has also enjoyed helping as a teacher in the after school program and ESL classes through her church’s Hispanic ministry. She is thankful for the opportunity to teach science in an environment where she can point her students toward the wonderful Creator of this magnificent world in which we live.
Miss Anne Fowler
First Grade & Latin
Anne Fowler graduated from University of Virginia with a degrees in classics and French. She was home-schooled by several of our faculty, most importantly her mother, Jane Fowler, as well as by Teresa Patton and Annie Leach, and is excited to be teaching alongside her mentors.
Mrs. Jane Fowler
Lead Teacher
History & Literature, Fourth-Fifth Grade
Jane received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia in Middle School Education and has been teaching in public, private and home-schooling environments for 16 years. She currently teaches history and literature in the middle school, where she finds the integration of the two subjects to be an asset to the study of both. Jane is one of the founding teachers of Redeemer.
Mrs. Elizabeth Kramer
Grammar School Music
Elizabeth received a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from James Madison University. She taught third grade at Redeemer for one year. After traveling and camping through forty states with her husband, she is excited to be back at Redeemer teaching music. She has taught private and group instrument lessons on piano, guitar, and banjo.
Mrs. Julie Landes
Second Grade
Julie Landes received a Master of Arts in elementary education at James Madison University, through their five-year program. She is excited to begin her teaching career in a school where she can teach the truth of God through all subjects.
Mrs. Annie Leach
Third Grade & Latin
Annie Leach graduated from Wake Forest University with a major in English and minor in education. Annie and her husband, Bill, are among the founders of Redeemer. Her five children are or have been both home-schooled and students at Redeemer.
Mrs. Dia Russell
Physical Education
Dia has been teaching fitness and wellness classes to children for over 4 years. She approaches her classes with the joy that comes with serving in a fitness ministry. By making fitness truly enjoyable and teaching the importance of healthy lifestyles to the next generation, she strives to glorify the Lord and inspire students to a lifetime of good health. Through a variety of programs and communication, she offers and encourages opportunities for RCS families to be active together.
Mrs. Dorothy Scheel
Art & Art History
Dorothy Scheel graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelors degree in Fine Arts and a double minor in History and Art Education. She is certified to teach art to K-12. She has taught art for a number of years to students in a home school co-operative and over several years at Redeemer and for Stepping Stones.
Mrs. Shernae Storella
Kindergarten
Shernae received her bachelor's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Recreation Parks and Tourism. After graduating, she returned to VCU taking educational courses for the lower elementary level. She home-schooled her two children for seven years, served as an Awana Leader, chaired a K-5 Children's Ministry, worked in a Daycare Facility and a parochial school. Shernae served as Redeemer's Kindergarten teacher for two years. After taking a year off, she looks forward to returning to Redeemer doing what she loves: teaching children how big and fun learning is. Shernae counts it an honor and a privilege to teach the children of our future.
Mrs. Kathleen Wissinger
Music
Kathleen (Kath) has been directing youth handbells for 20 years at Massanutten Presbyterian Church. A composer with over 50 pieces in print, Kath often writes focused pedagogical pieces for her music classes, many which have been published (Accolade, Grand Entry, Hyfrydol, A Tree and a Star, Campana Sonos, Many and Great, Laudare and others.) Kath directs and teaches at national, regional and local handbell events. She is on the Boards for Area III AGEHR (The American Guild of Handbell Ringers) and Harrisonburg Music Teachers Association and teaches piano in her home studio. Kath has a degree in geology from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) and worked as a National Park Service Ranger and environmental educator. She loves bells and knows they are a superb tool for teaching music theory and performance and for developing fellowship and cooperation.
